Holistic Skin Care & a DIY Soothing Lavender Spritz Recipe

The skin is the body's largest organ.

Skin serves as a primary sensory organ, detecting touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. It acts as a protective barrier against the external world, regulates body temperature, absorbs energy from the sun, and helps the body’s detoxification process.

Beyond physical appearance, the skin is a wealth of information. It reflects the body's overall health, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. In the past decade, holistic skincare and turning towards natural plant-derived remedies for the skin have grown in popularity. There is an understanding that what we put on our skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and has a profound effect on our overall well-being.

The Skin’s Role in Health & Well-being:

• Barrier Function: The skin acts as a primary barrier, preventing the entry of harmful microorganisms, allergens, and environmental pollutants into the internal cavities of the body. From acne to inflammation, eczema, and psoriasis, or hydration and elasticity, herbal medicine practitioners can tell a lot about a person by the state of their skin.

• Sensory Perception: Nerve endings in the skin allow for the perception of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. This sensory feedback is crucial for navigating the environment safely and responding appropriately to various stimuli.

• Thermoregulation: Sweat glands in the skin help regulate body temperature through the process of sweating, encouraging internal balance. In herbal medicine & Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal formulations will include herbs with thermal properties such as "cooling" or "warming" to take into account an individual's constitution, symptoms, and the desired balance of Yin and Yang in the body.

• Metabolic Functions: The skin is involved in the synthesis of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. This vitamin is critical for bone health and has implications for the cascade of metabolic functions in the body.

• Excretion & Detoxification: Sweat glands and sebaceous glands contribute to the excretion of waste products, aiding in the body's detoxification processes essential for glowing skin. Skin houses immune cells such as Langerhans Cells and T Cells, contributing to the body's defense and facilitating an immune response when needed.

• Psychodermatology: Scientific studies highlight the connection between the skin and the nervous system, revealing how stress and emotional well-being can impact skin conditions. The field of psychodermatology explores the intricate connection between the mind and skin health.
  
  

In essence, the skin, from a scientific perspective, is a multifaceted organ that goes beyond its physical appearance. Its role extends to immune defense, sensory perception, metabolic functions, and even psychological well-being, making it a pivotal contributor to holistic health.

Holistic Skin Care:

Holistic skincare is the interconnection of physical, emotional, and mental well-being to achieve optimal skin health.

Skin issues, such as acne and eczema, are often linked to factors of external influences, including stress, lack of sleep, and overall well-being. Recognizing the body as an interconnected system, we can use a combination of lifestyle factors with natural skincare products to boost the overall health and vitality of the skin.

Lifestyle Factors & Skin Care:

Lifestyle in a modern context includes the foods we eat, hydration levels, stress levels, self-care, relationships, exercise, and mental health. 

Asia Dorsey’s Food as Medicine lecture inside our 6-Month Herbalism Program points out that there is great potential for using food as medicine in our modern world. Consider a balanced, nutrient-rich, and culturally relevant diet for both skin and overall health.

Hydrating with water, water-based fruits or veggies, and herbal teas are a great option for maintaining optimal hydration. Avoid processed foods and sugars that have a strong influence on the immune system & skin.

Stress management and the management of your mental health is crucial for skin health and overall well-being. Exercising on a regular basis is a pillar of health. Being mindful of stress and finding activities that promote the release of endorphins will help to detox skin and ensure a healthy nutrient supply in the blood to the body.

Learn more about Navigating Mental Health with Holistic Living Tips & Household Herbs in our recent blog post!

Skincare Product Selection:

Holistic skin care calls for close attention to lifestyle factors, overall health, and of course, the products you use.

This is why we love herbal medicine and the prospect of making your own skincare products at home. Herbalism brings medicine-making back to the people and hosts huge potential for healing, nourishing, protecting, and bringing life to the skin.

“From the beginning of time, herbs have been the people's medicine.”

— Rosemary Gladstar, Herbalist & Godmother of Western Herbalism

The Medicine Making Module with Rosemary Gladstar in our 6-Month Herbalism Program gives 10+ external herbal preparations specifically for healthy and vibrant skin. We learn how to make cleansers, hydrosols, serums, and our favorite DIY spritzers (which is exactly what you’ll learn how to make below!)

Materia Medica:

For this recipe, we will use one of our favorite household herbs:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Herbal Energetics: Drying, bitter, cooling, high volatile oils
• Use in Skin Care: Lavender is renowned for its skin-soothing properties. It's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial for calming irritated skin, addressing minor skin issues, and promoting a healthy complexion. It is often incorporated into skincare products for its calming and balancing effects.
• Preparation: Lavender can be used in various skin care preparations, including infused oils, hydrosols, and essential oils. Infused lavender oil is commonly used in massage oils, creams, or balms, while lavender hydrosol serves as a refreshing facial mist or toner. Lavender essential oil is a concentrated form suitable for dilution in carrier oils.
• Harvest/Origins: Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region but is cultivated worldwide. It thrives in well-drained, sunny environments. The harvesting of lavender typically occurs when the flowers are in full bloom.

Simple Skincare Recipe: Soothing Lavender Spritz

• 4 oz Spritzer Bottle (or reuse one you have in the house)
• 4 oz Distilled or Spring Water (a carrier for the Essential Oil)
• 15-20 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or E.O. of choice, depending on purpose of spritzer)
• 1-2 Tablespoons of 80 Proof Vodka (to preserve your preparation)
• Optional: Add small crystals to your spritzer bottle to infuse it with other healing frequencies!

Use: This lavender spritzer is a simple yet versatile skincare product that can serve as a refreshing facial mist for hydration, a calming aid for stress relief, and a mood-enhancing spray for a calming atmosphere.

Tip: Experiment with this recipe! Try different combinations of Essential Oils & find the scents that you love the most.

Note: Sustainable harvesting practices are strongly advocated, emphasizing ethical sourcing, fair trade principles, and adherence to environmental regulations. Essential Oil Dilution in a carrier oil is recommended, and users should perform patch tests to check for allergic reactions.

Holistic skincare and DIY skincare promote a comprehensive and sustainable approach to achieving radiant and healthy skin. This holistic philosophy acknowledges the interconnectedness of overall well-being with skin health and our ability to take care of ourselves.

→ If you love holistic wellness tips, DIY skincare, and herbal medicine, we invite you to explore Ecoversity's 6-Month Herbalism Program. 🌹

This is an opportunity to learn how to utilize herbal DIY systems that save money, reduce your ecological footprint, and create streamlines for income!

🪻 Class begins on April 17th. Join us for a journey with the plants leading the way!

Written by: Allison Graham

Allison is a professional copywriter & brings an integrated expression of mind, body, and spirit to Ecoversity. As an entrepreneur inspired by the natural world, she founded the Science Meets Spirit Podcast and a line of herbal medicinals to honor her path as a budding herbalist. Her multifaceted approach to life extends through offering leadership experiences in the form of retreats and 1-on-1 mentorship sessions. She aims to inspire with her commitment to holistic wellness and her connection to the cyclical wisdom of our human experience.